Discouragement

This blog will complete our trip with Paul and Silas on what has been called “The Second Missionary Journey.”

Paul begins Mission Corinth… discouraged. His second journey had netted little by way of results. He was fatigued… having just walked 53 miles from Athens to Corinth. He has yet to stay in one city that long. Converts were scarce in three of the four venues thus far. And he is alone when he wanders into Corinth.

If there is anything harder than reaching Athenians with their intellectual pursuits it is reaching Corinthians with their lustful ones.

For Paul has just entered the red light district of the ancient world. Central to their pagan worship was worship of the love goddess, Aphrodite. Illicit sex was rampant with worship including state run prostitution. If you’ve ever walked through a wild alcoholic party, you’ve walked down main street Corinth.

This was challenging for Paul. It is one thing to argue for the defense of the Gospel in a debate club and quite another to attempt it at a drunken gala.

And for the first time, I see in the Scriptures, Paul was a little scared: In First Corinthians 2, he is honest: “When I came to you, … I was with you in weakness and in much fear and trembling;” {1 Cor 2:1a, 2:3 RSV}. Paul was tired, stressed and a little frightened as he rolled into Corinth. He could use a little encouragement.

Heard the story of a band that had what they thought was one die hard fan. They were performing in a park before an audience that had gradually dwindled down to one lone man. After pounding out more songs, one of the tired musicians finally suggested to the music lover that if he left they could all go home.

“Do whatever you want,” said the man. “I’m just waiting around so I can put away the chairs.” (“All in a Day’s Work,” Reader’s Digest, August 2007, p. 54.)

Do you ever get the feeling that no one is listening to your music? If only someone could lend you a little encouragement. But where do you go to find encouragement? Where is the reassuring voice that everything is going to be alright… that despite the trying times that God is with you and will see you through?

Paul found encouragement the same way we can.

1. Encouragement through ministry friends.

Verses 2 & 3 of Acts 18 say:

2There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.

Fellow Christians with the same ministry goals and the same secular vocation! What a find for Paul! Or perhaps the Lord knew what he needed in just the right time.

You will have a lot of friendships in your lifetime, not all of them will be, or should be, with just believers. But friendships with Jesus as your focus will be among the most encouraging.

2. Encouragement through Small Victories

Corinth was tough… but not impenetrable. Verses 7 & 8 say:

7Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.

After initial rejection… there is some response. Paul couldn’t convince the majority of the synagogue, but he did convert the head guy. Crispus and his whole family came to know the Lord. The ruler of the synagogue! Small victories like that keep you going. What small victories are you overlooking in your life?

3. Encouragement through Prayer.

Sometimes when you friends and small victories can’t help, you need to run to the Father. He knows what to say to get you back on your feet.

God speaks to Paul during this trying time: “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.” (v.9b-10)

Simple direct words for the discouraged: “Don’t be afraid.” “Keep going.” “I am with you.” “I am not finished with My work that I want to get done through you.”

Paul kept at it. His band of missionaries played on in the midst of a hostile environment. And guess what? For all of Paul’s fear and trembling… He spends more time in Corinth than any other place on the second journey! (1 year and six months) He settles in and does significant work for the Kingdom. The scariest city ends up being one of the most fruitful.

Where does God have you right now? Frightened? Hang in there… God still has many people in this city. Keep going. He’s not finished with you yet.